Planning Vietnam, appreciate thoughts and experiences

[Flyfrequently]

Looking to travel to Vietnam in July to escape our Victorian winter. (I read the weather can be wet, even monsoons.)

Ideally flying QF into Hanoi and out from Ho Chi Minh but appears unable to book this via QF website.
Is this something I would need to do through a TA?

Loose plan at present would be Hanoi, Halong Bay , Danang/Hoi An then Ho Chi Minh or vice versa.
More of a holiday with beach time in Danang this time rather than a trip.

Open to suggestions and any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[kpc]

My first thought is that July is not the best time to visit Hanoi...it is very hot and humid, and rains a lot. I went to Hanoi in early August a few years back and the heat and humidity were stifling. We had to retreat to our airconditioned hotel room between 10am and 430-5pm!...we only ventured out in Hanoi early in the mornings and in the evenings!

Qf does not fly to Han...J* flies to Sgn from Syd/ Mel, and you can book a LCC like Viet Jet to Han and Dad etc.

 

[Flyfrequently]

My first thought is that July is not the best time to visit Hanoi...it is very hot and umid

Thanks @kpc agree, was using it as a entry point to go to Halong Bay.
My other thought is we just concentrate on what we want/holiday/beach time and go in/ out SGN - though seems a waste to go so far and do so little!

 

[Flyfrequently]

My first thought is that July is not the best time to visit Hanoi...it is very hot and humid, and rains a lot. I went to Hanoi in early August a few years back and the heat and humidity were stifling. We had to retreat to our airconditioned hotel room between 10am and 430-5pm!...we only ventured out in Hanoi early in the mornings and in the evenings!

Qf does not fly to Han...J* flies to Sgn from Syd/ Mel, and you can book a LCC like Viet Jet to Han and Dad etc.

Was looking at booking through Qantas but flying CX SGN or HAN - HK then QF to MEL home and via SIN on the way up.

It's the humidity that will determine what we do, thanks for your input @kpc

 

[JackMiles]

I would never suggest that somebody not go to Vietnam. I love the country. But July is, unfortunately, not a great time to go. As you have read, can be very wet in the north, including out on Halong Bay, and very hot and humid otherwise. So, highish chance that visibility would be poor on Halong Bay which, for most people, would severely reduce the appeal.
Weather is generally good in the central region (eg Da Nang/ Hoi An) in July but this is also the most popular time for that area so will be very crowded and hotels etc will cost more. From what I have read Hoi An is crazy busy a lot of the time, so peak season would be unbearable (to me). If it is really mostly beach time you're after, maybe consider smaller cities, like Quy Nhon, for example. There's also the islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao but you'll have to look up weather in July for them - I'm not sure off the top of my head.
If you have not been to HCMC before there is plenty to see and explore there to justify the travel distance. Will be hot hot hot there too, but can cool off in the pool at your hotel, and with refreshing bia hoi